Mobile home skirting

ABSTRACT

A mobile home skirting assembly comprising pairs of upper and lower overlapping panels which are mounted about the periphery of a mobile home to form an enclosure for the space between the bottom of the home and the ground. The upper of each pair of panels is attached to the mobile home, and the lower to the ground. Their side edges are bent and interfitted to provide a sliding joint which accommodates variations in the distance between the mobile home and the ground due to frost expansion, but prevents separation between adjacent pairs of panels under high wind conditions.

United States Patent 1191 Lopes 1 Jan. 16, 1973 541 MOBILE HOME SKIRTING 466,198 12/1891 486,885 11/1892 [75] Inventor. 1151082710 Lopes, St. Clan Shores, 2,522,097 9/1950 [73] Assignee: Temo Incorporated, Fraser, Mich. 33891513 6/ 1963 [22] Filed: 1970 Primary Examinerl-lenry C. Sutherland 211 App]. 95 375 Attorney--Hauke, Gifford & Patalidis Related U.S. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 789,761, Jan. 8, 1969, abandoned.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1961 Puckettetal. ..280/150 6/1957 Heerwagen ..52/588 [57] ABSTRACT A mobile home skirting assembly comprising pairs of upper and lower overlapping, panels which are mounted about the periphery of a mobile home to form an enclosure for the space between the bottom of the home and the ground. The upper of each pair of panels is attached to the mobile home, and the lower to the ground. Their side edges are bent and interfitted to provide a sliding joint which accommodates variations in the distance between the mobile home and the ground due to frost expansion, but prevents separation between adjacent pairs of panels under high wind conditions.

1 Claim, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 18 I973 SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTOPJ ROSARIO LOPES PATENTEDJAN 16 ms SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG-8 INVENTOR ROSARIO LOPES MOBILE HOME SKIRTING RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of now abandoned patent application Ser. No. 789,761 filed Jan. 8, I969.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to skirting for mobile homes, and more particularly to a skirting assembly composed of panels which are connected together by interfitting side edges.

Large numbers of mobile homes are employed as a relatively semi-permanent form of residence. The vehicle is usually mounted on blocks or other suitable support on a cement pad with a space being provided between the bottom of the vehicle and the ground. It is common practice to enclose this space by installing a skirting that is attached 'around the periphery of the mobile home.

Mobile home skirting is usually assembled from a plurality of pre-cut aluminum panels that are inter-connected to form a continuous vertical wall about the base of the home. In order to accommodate variations in the height of the enclosed space that are caused by ground expansion and contraction due to frost and the like, it is conventional practice to anchor the panels to the ground with their upper edges being connected to the mobile home by a slip joint or section of hollow molding that accommodates vertical panel movement.

The major problem associated with conventional mobile home skirting is caused by the wide range in the distance between the ground and the floors of different mobile homes. The practice is to pre-cut aluminum paneling into a large number of standard sizes which are then available for any standard height. The range in panel sizes varies from about l4 inches to 36 inches. There is usually a one inch difference between adjacent sizes so that 23 sizes must be available in a full invento- One approach disclosed in the prior art for accommodating different heights with a minimum of panel sizes is to install the panels in upper and lower overlapping pairs which are connected together with their overall height being adjusted to accommodate the .particular installation. This technique is disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 2,988,380; 3,042,425; 3,218,09l and others. Heretofore, however, a commercially acceptable structure for connecting such overlapping panels together to permit vertical sliding movement, while at the same time preventing their separation under substantial wind forces has not been available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The broad purpose of the present invention is to provide a mobile home skirting assembly comprising pairs of overlapping panels in which the side edges of each panel are bent such that when interfitted with adjacent panels, a sliding joint is formed without any fastening or other connecting elements. The sliding joint allows a pair of overlapping upper and lower panels to automatically adjust their overall height to accommodate the height of the space between the floor of the mobile home and the ground. In addition the joint prevents any horizontal separation either between overlapping panels or between panels that are connected side by side.

which the invention pertains upon reference to the following detailed description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile home provided with a skirting assembly illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational sectional view through a pair of overlapping panels of the skirting assembly of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a pair of overlapping panels;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the upper end of the joint between a pair of upper panels;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 55 of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a modified form of sliding joint; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 show still another form of sliding joint configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Now referring to the drawings, a conventional mobile home 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as supported above a cement pad 12 which provides: a ground supporting surface. A skirting assembly 14, illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, is mounted about the periphery of the mobile home 10 to enclose the space between the bottom of the mobile home and the pad 12.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, the skirting assembly 14 comprises a plurality of upper panels 16 connected to the mobile home 10, and a plurality of lower panels 18 connected to the pad 12 and overlapping the upper panels 16 to form a vertical wall. Each lower panel 18 is paired with an upper panel 16 to form an overlapping pair 20.

Both panels 16 and 18 of each pair are preferably formed of 0.024 inch aluminum and pre-painted a color that complements the mobile home 10. The upper panels 16 and the lower panels 18 each have a common standard width, however their height is chosen so that their overall height accommodates the distance between the bottom of the mobile home 10 and the pad 12, as well as variations in this distance caused by frost expansion and the: like.

Referring to FIG. 3, each upper panel 16 has one side edge bent at right angles to its front face and then back upon itself in three right angle bends to form a channel 22. The opposite side edge is also bent at right angles with respect to its exposed face and then back upon itself in the same manner as the channel 22 to form a slightly smaller and narrower channel 24. Similarly,

each lower panel 18 has one of its side edges bent at right angles to its exposed face and then back upon itself to form a channel 26 which is nested and telescopically slidably movable in the channel 22 of its companion upper panel 16. The opposite side edge of each lower panel 18 is also bent toward its front face and then back upon itself to form a channel 28 which is nested and telescopically slidably movable in the channel 24 of its upper panel.

Thus the upper and lower panels of each pair 20 are vertically movable with respect to one another with the interfitting channels 22 and 26, and 24 and 28 preventing horizontal separation between the overlapping portion of the panels.

A threaded fastener 30 connects each upper panel 16 adjacent the channel 22 to the mobile home 10. Each upper panel 16 is also provided with a shallow bend 32 along its vertical center line which allows its unconnected side edge to have a limited degree of horizontal relative motion with respect to its connection to the mobile home 10. However the basic purpose of the bend 32 is to provide a passage 34 between the back side of the panel and the mobile home to allow air to circulate into the space enclosed by the skirting assembly 14.

Similarly each lower panel 18 is connected adjacent the channel 26 by a fastener 36 to a base strip 38 that is anchored to pad 14 at suitable intervals by nails 40 (only one shown).

Thus it can be seen that each upper panel 16 is secured to the mobile home and each lower panel 18 is anchored to the pad 12 so that any variations in the height of the mobile home above the pad 12 will be reflected in vertical relative motion between the upper and lower panels. Each lower panel 18 is also provided with a bend 42 along its vertical center line so that it closely and slidably fits against the back side of its companion upper panel 16 so that each pair of overlapping panels provide a continuous vertical wall.

Referring to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the upper channel 22 and the lower channel 26 of each pair of overlapping panels form a vertical hollow rib that not only stiffens the panel assembly but also provides a decorative joint between adjacent pairs of overlapping panels.

Referring to FIG. 5, adjacent pairs of overlapping panels are joined together by inserting the nested pair of channels 24 and 28 of one pair of panels into the nested pair of channels 22 and 26 of the adjacent pair of panels. The channels 22 and 26 are formed with an opening indicated at A which is sufficient to receive the nested channels 24 and 28 by pressing them through the opening A.

Each pair of channels has a sufficient elasticity that allows the smaller pair of channels 24 and 28 to be passed through the opening as both the smaller and larger channels are elastically deformed from their normal configuration. When the smaller channels 24 and 28 are fully received within the larger channels 26 and 26, all of the channels snap back to their normal configuration. Alternatively the smaller channels 24 and 28 can be received within the larger channels 22 and 26 by inserting the free edges of the smaller channels through the opening A and then gradually folding the two pairs of channels together. In addition, the

smaller channels can also be telescopically received into the larger channels. However, their capability of being snapped together by pressing the smaller pair of channels into the larger pair is particularly useful where the panels are installed as overlapping pairs because of the ease in which adjacent pairs can be connected together with a minimum of motion.

It is to be understood that the channel side edges of each pair of adjacent panels provides the sole means connecting the panels. The connecting joint allows vertical sliding movement between the upper and lower panels and also stiffens the panels so that they can resist substantial wind pressures without being separated. In addition, the overlapping configuration substantially reduces the number of panel sizes that must be kept in stock.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the larger, outer pair of channels 22 and 24 are formed with their extreme edges bent to form a pair of lips 44 and 46 which prevent the inner pair of channels 24 and 28 from being horizontally separated from the outer pair of channels. The relative dimensions between the smaller channels 24 and 28, and the larger channels 22 and 26 allow their respective panels freedom for relative movement toward and away from one another, but prevent any relative motion in directions at right angles to their exposed faces.

Referring to FIG. 2, a horizontal strip 48 is connected to the mobile home 10 to provide a shield for the upper horizontal edge of the upper panel 16 in order to prevent water from being passed into the enclosed space below the mobile home, but to allow air to circulate into this space.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate other channel configurations in which the side edges of the upper and lower panels can be bent to form a sliding joint. For example, in FIGS. 6 and 7 a pair of upper panels 16 are shown with the side edge of one being formed in a square channelshaped cross section which is similar to the channel 22 illustrated in FIG. 5, and the side edge of the other panel being bent with a rectangular cross section to form a channel 102.

The side edge of a lower panel 18 is formed with a channel 106 that is nested within the channel 100 of the upper panel so that the upper and lower panels are vertically slidably movable relative to one another. The opposite edge of the lower panel is bent with a pair of reverse bends 108 and 1 l0 and which are received into a position in which it is wrapped around the extreme edge 112 of the channel 102. Thus the inner channels can be snapped into position in which they are tightly interfitted within the larger channels 100 and 106 to prevent separation between the overlapping portions of the panels but to allow limited relative motion between the panels toward. and away from one another.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show still another form of interlocking channel configuration in which one side of each pair of overlapping panels 16 and 18 are bent to form a pair of channels 200 and 202, having a relatively square cross section, which are nested one within the other. The extreme edge of each of the two channels provides an opening 204 for receiving the side edges of the adjacent pair of overlapping panels. The extreme edge of the channels 200 and 202 are bent at an angle of about 45 into the channels with respect to the opening 204 to form a pair of locking lips 206 and 208, respectively.

The side edges of the adjacent pair of overlapping panels 16 and 18 are bent outwardly at right angles to the front face of the panels and then back toward the panels to form a pair of generally U-shaped channels 208 and 210 which are nested one within the other. The channels 208 and 210 are also formed with a pair of lips 212 and 214 that are received within the lips 206 and 208 to prevent the channels 208 and 210 from being separated from the larger channels but also allow a limited relative motion between the adjacent pair of panels toward and away from one another. One advantage of the configuration of FIGS. 8 and 9 is that it employs less metal in the channels while still retaining the basic hollow rib configuration of the outer, larger channels.

Thus it is to be understood that l have described in detail several embodiments of a novel mobile home skirting assembly which employs overlapping panels to reduce the large inventory of different sizes that is necessary for the conventional commercial installation of such skirting. The panels are connected together by a novel sliding joint which allows sliding vertical motion between upper and lower panels to accommodate frost expansion.

In addition to eliminating the various fasteners and connectors that form a part of the joint connecting the panels of the prior art, the novel joint of the present invention reduces installation time and also stiffens the assembly.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A skirt assembly for a parked mobile home comprising:

a plurality of upper panel sections and means at taching said upper panels to the mobile home near floor level in depending relation thereto and said upper panels being of a height less than the height of the mobile home floor above the ground,

eac of said pane a plurality of lower panel sections and means attaching the lower panels to the ground, said lower panels extending upwardly into underlapping and telescoping relationship to said upper panel sections, and

interengaging means connecting contiguous edges of said interengaging means further comprising a first side edge of said lower panel sections having a second rib thereon to provide an outwardly disposed vertically extending male portion, the side edges of said upper panel sections adjacent said first side edges having a second slotted rib thereon to provide a vertically extending female portion for receiving said male portion,

said joined female and male portions of said lower panel sections being vertically slidably received by the joined female and male portions of said upper panel sections whereby said interengaging means permits relative vertical movement between said u per and lower lpanel sections, and

sections being provlded with a bend along its vertical center line, said bend disposing the center portion of said panels outwardly with respect to said mobile home to provide a passage permitting the circulation of air around said panel sections and beneath said mobile home. 

1. A skirt assembly for a parked mobile home comprising: a plurality of upper panel sections and means attaching said upper panels to the mobile home near floor level in depending relation thereto and said upper panels being of a height less than the height of the mobile home floor above the ground, a plurality of lower panel sections and means attaching the lower panels to the gRound, said lower panels extending upwardly into underlapping and telescoping relationship to said upper panel sections, and interengaging means connecting contiguous edges of said lower panels and said upper panels, said interengaging means comprising a first side edge of said upper panel sections having a first rib thereon to provide an outwardly disposed vertically extending male portion, side edges of said upper panel sections adjacent said first side edges having a first slotted rib thereon to provide a vertically extending female portion for receiving said male portion, said interengaging means further comprising a first side edge of said lower panel sections having a second rib thereon to provide an outwardly disposed vertically extending male portion, the side edges of said upper panel sections adjacent said first side edges having a second slotted rib thereon to provide a vertically extending female portion for receiving said male portion, said joined female and male portions of said lower panel sections being vertically slidably received by the joined female and male portions of said upper panel sections whereby said interengaging means permits relative vertical movement between said upper and lower panel sections, and each of said panel sections being provided with a bend along its vertical center line, said bend disposing the center portion of said panels outwardly with respect to said mobile home to provide a passage permitting the circulation of air around said panel sections and beneath said mobile home. 